Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Not Just Another Saturday Night

Ever since I first listened to the June
1975 Dallas concert that concluded the Elvis Aron Presley box
set, I've had a soft spot for the tours Elvis did in the spring and
summer of 1975. Maybe his artistic ambitions had faded at the time,
but he was back in good shape, full of energy and his voice as
impressive as ever. Something that is evident while listening to
former FTD releases such as Dixieland Rocks (2001), Southern
Nights (2006) and Dixieland Delight(2009).

Now, I'm happy to report that this
holds true for the recent FTD addition Another Saturday Night
as well. Featuring the evening show from Shreveport on June 7, 1975,
Elvis sounds engaged and is clearly having fun. Judging by the
screams from the fans in the Hirsch Coliseum, so is the audience.

“It's a pleasure to be back in
Shreveport, because this was my first job, as you know, in
Shreveport. And if the sound goes out, it might be my last one!”
Elvis kids before starting doing some “old ones” like “Love Me”
(followed by “If You Love Me”), Love Me Tender” “All Shook
Up,” “Teddy Bear”/”Don't Be Cruel” and “Hound Dog.”

As with all the concerts from the May
30-June 10 tour, this one doesn't take off fully until it's time for
“Burning Love,” delivered in true 1972 style right after “The
Wonder Of You.” As “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” is then performed after the
introductions, promoting his new single, the fans are treated with
no less than two of Elvis' best rockers from the 70's at the same
show.

Other highlights include “How Great
Thou Art” and “An American Trilogy,” the former having Elvis
repeating the last verse (“I
can do it better than that, see, cause I missed that first part”),
the latter receiving an enormous response from the southern audience.

I can also report that, yes, Elvis once
again succeeds in getting J.D. Sumner to break up during the second
verse of “Why Me Lord,” this time by shouting out, “Sing it
baby,” and “Kiss me.”

Even the introductions are more
interesting than usual, due to the fact that James Burton is from
Shreveport. “Johnny B. Goode” has Elvis singing an extra refrain
before launching into the first verse, after which he says, “It's
strange how things work out because 19 years ago it was my first job
here, and James is from here. And he's my guitar player. It's strange
you know.”

And here I am, listening to the very
concert where those words were spoken by Elvis, 37 years ago. That's a bit strange, too, don't you think?! But FTD made it happen,
and for that I'm grateful.